Yes, there is an obligation for the employer to make accommodations. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all areas of public life, including employment. This means that employers must provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities unless doing so would cause an undue hardship.

In the case of an employee who is unable to ambulate more than 50 feet, the employer would need to consider what reasonable accommodations could be made. Some possible accommodations include:

• Providing a wheelchair or other mobility device
• Allowing the employee to work from home
• Modifying the employee’s workspace to make it more accessible
• Providing the employee with more frequent breaks

The specific accommodations that are necessary will vary depending on the individual’s disability and the specific job duties. However, the employer is required to make a good faith effort to provide accommodations that will allow the employee to perform the essential functions of the job.

If the employer refuses to make accommodations, the employee may file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC will investigate the complaint and, if it finds that discrimination has occurred, it may file a lawsuit on the employee’s behalf.